Anthony Albanese has been chased out of an occasion by a journalist peppering him with questions on claims Labor orchestrated a “political hit job” on Linda Reynolds.
The Liberal senator informed 7 News Spotlight that she had been forged because the villain in former worker Brittany Higgins’ rape allegation towards her ex-colleague Bruce Lehrmann.
Senator Reynolds stated she was forewarned by late Labor senator Kimberley Kitching that the celebration was planning to make use of the allegation to assault her, a declare that Senator Kitching refuted.
“I was the perfect villain,” Senator Reynolds stated.
“Although none of it, this is the irony of it, none of it was absolutely true.
“Every good political hit job and every good story like this, and every social crusade, needs a villain.”
Mr Albanese had been attending a Qantas occasion in assist of the Voice to parliament when the Seven News reporter pounced.
“Senator Reynolds has accused Labor of a political hit job, what do you make of it?” the reporter requested.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Mr Albanese responded.
The 7 News reporter was undeterred and requested the query once more to which Mr Albanese repeated he had no concept.
“Seriously,” he stated as he walked away.
Mr Lehrmann pleaded not responsible to sexually assaulting Ms Higgins within the ministerial workplace of Senator Reynolds at Parliament House in March 2019.
His trial was aborted final October attributable to jury misconduct and a deliberate retrial was deserted attributable to issues about Ms Higgins’ psychological well being. The cost was dropped and there have been no findings made towards Mr Lehrmann.
Ms Higgins settled a private harm declare towards the federal government for an undisclosed quantity.
Higgins / Lehrmann / Sofronoff timeline
She has denied stories the fee may very well be as excessive as $3m.
The Sunday evening interview with Senator Reynolds will not be the primary time Labor has been accused of weaponising Ms Higgins’ allegation.
In an edifying week of parliament in June, the opposition claimed Finance Minister Katy Gallagher had misled parliament by claiming two years prior that no person in Labor had any information of Ms Higgins’ allegation earlier than it was revealed.
After it was revealed she was tipped off by Ms Higgins’ companion, Senator Gallagher was known as on to resign by the Coalition.
Senator Gallagher has denied having a task within the settlement of Ms Higgins’ claimand has rejected ideas she misled the parliament.
On Sunday evening, Senator Reynolds described being locked out of negotiations and claimed she was unable to defend herself throughout mediation with Ms Higgins’ legal professionals.
As a end result, she repeated her menace that she can be referring the matter to the newly established National Anti-Corruption Commission.
“The Attorney-General of this nation, through the government solicitors, wrote to both myself and Senator (Michaelia) Cash and instructed us not to defend ourselves, and that we were not to attend the mediation,” she stated.
“It’s inexplicable.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
